Ollie Watkins said that the calmness instilled in the squad by Unai Emery ahead of kick-off was crucial to winning their Europa League final against Freiburg 3-0 on Wednesday. 

Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers all got on the scoresheet at Tupras Stadyumu as the Villans ended their 44-year wait for a major European trophy. 

Two stunning goals at the end of the first half from Tielemans and Buendia set Emery's men on their way before Rogers sealed the deal with a smart 58th-minute finish.

Only Borussia Monchengladbach against FC Twente in 1975, Real Madrid against Koln in 1986 and Sevilla against Middlesbrough in 2006 have won either the final or a leg of the final in the UEFA Cup/Europa League by a greater margin than Villa's three goals (all four goal margins). 

It was also their first major trophy since their EFL Cup success 30 years ago, while the club lifted a major European trophy for the first time since beating Bayern Munich in the European Cup in 1982. 

And their triumph was masterminded by Emery, who became the second manager to win a major European competition five times after Carlo Ancelotti in the Champions League.

No manager has won more major European finals than his five alongside Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Giovanni Trapattoni, and Watkins believes that Emery's mood ahead of kick-off rubbed off on not only him, but also his team-mates.

"He was really calm in the build-up," Watkins told TNT Sports. "Sometimes, in league games, he's anxious because he wants to get the win. 

"But he was calm, and that set the tone for us boys. Youri ran the show in the midfield.

"And Victor [Lindelof] has done so well since he's come in, he was my player of the match."

And though he did not get on the scoresheet, Watkins more than played his part for Villa with a tireless performance at the top end of the pitch. 

The England international finished with team-high totals for touches in the opposition box (eight), successful dribbles (three), duels won (eight), and aerial duels won (three). 

"Amazing, amazing. To perform like that was unbelievable. I felt like we really controlled the game, and we punished them in the end," Watkins added. 

"I've watched many finals, and I think set pieces are crucial. Until then, it was a bit cagey; they were going man for man.

"Fair play to [set-piece coach] Austin MacPhee for having the courage. We left four up on a corner. An unbelievable experience. Look at this. It's what you dream of.

"Sometimes you have ups and downs, but we pulled through in the end, we pushed on, we got Champions League football. It's so special. All of these fans – it's indescribable."

Ezri Konsa also impressed for Villa, making more clearances (six) than any other player in Emery's ranks, and he took the time to acknowledge how far the club had come since he joined them from Brentford back in 2019. 

"I don't know [how I feel]. I don't think it's sunk in yet. I was saying not long ago how much of a journey it's been," Konsa added.

"Seven years at this club, lots of ups and downs. To finally bring back some silverware for the club and fans is amazing. It's something I can't really describe.

"Look what it means to the fans, the players, some of us who've been here for so long.

"Fans have been with us through thick and thin for us, travelled everywhere. This is for them!"